Lydford Mining has pumped US$2 million in a Wirtgen Surface Miner for its New Relief Mine Site in Golden Grove, St Ann, an investment that’s expected to more than double exports of the company’s limestone materials by 2025.

Lydford has claimed the top position for limestone mining in Jamaica, leveraging its proximity to the Reynolds port in St Ann to export large shipments of construction, pharmaceutical and food grade limestone to countries throughout the western hemisphere. In 2023, the company tripled its exports to US$10 million.

The latest acquisition is expected to decrease operational costs and increase output in the year ahead, the company has said.

“The introduction of the 220 SMi Surface Miner is a part of our commitment to ‘Delivering What Matters’. This machine performs selective extraction with unprecedented precision, ensuring higher mineral quality and optimising the extraction of our resources,” said Lydford Mining Managing Director Jackie Hill Millington in a press release.

She added that the technology will allow the company to mine five times the amount of limestone it would normally mine on a daily basis.

The machinery was brought in with assistance from Jampro. Operators and technicians are currently being trained by Resansil Enterprises, the regional agent of Wirtgen Group. Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce Aubyn Hill was present for a demonstration of the new machinery.

“The acquisition of this new machine not only symbolises productivity but also exemplifies the strides we are making as a country in efficiency and innovation,” said Hill. “Our ministry, through Jampro, supports such advancements by offering productive input relief for manufacturers and special loans. This investment exemplifies how our initiatives drive industrial growth and economic success in Jamaica.”

In addition to increasing productivity and efficiency, Lydford is seeking to continue diversifying its offerings at the local and international level. The company has already opened a plant to produce pavers and blocks for the local market. Now, its exploring future opportunities to develop finished products like antacids which use the calcium carbonate from limestone as an active ingredient.

Floyd Green, minister of agriculture, fisheries and mining, stressed the need for this kind of diversification. “We love exportation and we love the exportation numbers coming from our goods. What I want from the mining industry to focus on is value addition,” said Green.

“I am looking to the Lydford team to move into the next stage of development; where we can start designing products from the minerals we mine. A lot of our minerals today are used in antacids and toothpastes from overseas brands because of the exportation numbers coming from Lydford. Diversifying the product range will help us to see sustainable growth within the mining industry,” he continued.

Lydford, which turned 32 this year, is already preparing to fill shipments for 50,000 tonnes of chemical-grade limestone for a power plant in Florida this week. The company is also preparing to ship 37,000 tonnes of high-purity limestone before the end of May.